Economists maintain positive outlook for hotel industryA panel of economists during a session at this week's International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin forecast steady improvement for the hotel industry despite continued economic uncertainty in several markets worldwide. "I can forecast that the future will be very difficult and it will be tough to navigate the waters ahead, but luck plays a dominant role and I think we're lucky to be in the travel and tourism industry. This is an industry that will benefit from the mass effect of so many [middle-class] travelers coming abroad," said Thierry Malleret, managing partner of the Monthly Barometer. Hotel Management online
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The Concierge Desk

Modern butler role is defined by top-notch management skillsWhile many people have an old-fashioned picture of butlers derived from popular television shows such as "Downton Abbey," many modern-day butlers fill complex roles at luxury hotels coordinating guest requests that can include room service and arranging wedding proposals. Their key qualifications often involve being able to handle a large number of projects simultaneously, and they can earn salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. CNNMoney/Fortune
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Column: Hotels' tech offerings should keep seniors in the loopHoteliers should not discount the strong demand provided by the above-60 consumer market, writes Larry Mogelonsky, president and founder of LMA Communications. The notion that seniors are unfamiliar with today's technological advancements should also be discarded. "Mobile, tablets, OTAs, social media -- all trends that apply elsewhere also apply to us, albeit with less immediacy," Mogelonsky writes. Hotel Interactive
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Willow Stream Spa comes to Fairmont the Palm in DubaiThe Willow Stream Spa is now offering its specialized services to guests of Fairmont the Palm, Dubai. What sets this spa apart includes its specialized menu of services for men and for women, its suites designed to accommodate couples and the way the intrinsic nature of Dubai itself is infused into the atmosphere at the spa. Luxury Travel Advisor
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Mixed-use developments boost focus on hotel roomsMixed-use developments are changing to an increased emphasis on hotel properties and a more limited focus on residential units, this feature says. Ritz-Carlton last year opened a new property in Puerto Rico with 115 hotel rooms and 13 condos that immediately sold out. "The projects include residential, but in a much more rational way in that they are really hotel projects that have residential components rather than the reverse of that," said Ritz-Carlton executive Timothy J. Grisius. HotelNewsNow.com
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Honeymoon travel, spending are still going strong, survey findsA new survey of travel agents by Allianz Travel Insurance indicates that honeymoons continue to be a travel priority for consumers, with 67% of couples reported as spending $2,500 to $5,000 for the trip. Respondents named Mexico, the Caribbean and Hawaii as some of the most popular honeymoon destinations, and June as the most popular month to take a honeymoon trip. "Honeymoons have always been a significant investment for couples, both financially and emotionally," said Alan Josephs, chief marketing officer at Allianz Global Assistance USA. TravelPulse
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Technology drives advancement in hotel serviceMore hoteliers are turning to technology to provide their guests with superior comfort and a greater level of customization over their hotel stay, this feature says. At the Fairmont Beijing Hotel, for instance, guests can choose room settings that fit their desired environment. Wireless sensors in each room also enable automatic energy-management procedures such as reducing temperature if the room is unoccupied. China Daily (Beijing)
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DiamondRock will focus on renovations in the near term, execs sayExecutives of DiamondRock Hospitality said Friday that the company's strategy over the next two years will focus on divesting noncore assets and renovating its existing hotel portfolio. DiamondRock's planned investment for renovations will amount to $140 million, says Sean M. Mahoney, the company's chief financial officer. "2014 to 2017 will be peak profitability years for the hotel industry, so we're trying to position the portfolio for those peak cash-flow years," said DiamondRock CEO Mark W. Brugger. HotelNewsNow.com
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Sunborn seeks investors in Asia for its luxury yacht hotelFinland-based Sunborn is seeking investors to help raise $156 million for its Sunborn III luxury yacht hotel under construction in Malaysia. The yacht hotel will include 189 rooms, a ballroom, a nightclub and an outdoor infinity pool. Sunborn is looking to Asia's growing wealth for investors as Europe's economy continues to struggle. Bloomberg Businessweek
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Prison makeoverHet Arresthuis, a notoriously fearsome jail in the Netherlands, has been revamped into a stylish and modern hotel where you can stay in an updated prison cell, or for a hefty sum, a night in the original holding cells. Read more.

Gaming reaches out to mobileThe Bortaga Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J., is the first hotel in the United States to offer guests electronic gaming on their television sets, using technology that will influence the future of gaming as it moves towards mobile and internet betting. Read more.